Proposed Mexico hospital not eligible for Rural Healthcare Transformation Program
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Audrain County isn't eligible to use funds from the Rural Healthcare Transformation Program to build a new hospital in Mexico.
The federal program prohibits the funds to be used for capital investments, like building a new hospital, according to Missouri Hospital Association spokesman Dave Dillon.
There were plans for the Audrain Community Hospital to reopen after it closed over three years ago, according to previous reporting. A new hospital needs to be built, and Boone Health has stepped in to run it once built.
State Rep. Kent Haden (R-Mexico) said Mexico is too far from the nearest hospital, Boone Health.
"If you have an emergency situation, a lot of times they talk about a golden hour for a stroke, same thing for a car wreck," Haden said. "When you're 40 miles away, by how many ambulances get to the scene, gets people going to get them there, you're outside that time."
The RHT program would give states $50 billion over five years, according to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
CMS is telling states to use a hypothetical $200 million on applications, Missouri Department of Social Services spokesman Chris Moreland says.
Missouri's application to CMS is due in early November, and funding would be awarded by Dec. 31, according to CMS.
If the state is awarded funding, Haden said he thinks the Missouri legislature could appropriate it mid-budget year in January so funding can be awarded to organizations.
Dillon also suspected the funds wouldn't be accessible right away.
"Since these funds aren’t included in the new state budget, it is very likely that appropriation authority will be necessary to implement the programs," Dillon said in an email to ABC 17 News. "If I’m correct, that would require lawmaking/budgeting early next session to implement and disburse."
